Surface covering and method of decorating the same



c. F. HUMPHREYS' SURFACE COVERING AND METHOD OF DECORATING 'IHE SAME Filed June 5. 1924 2 Sheeis-Sheet 1 C. F. HUMPHREYS SURFACE COVERING AND METHOD OF DECORATING THE SAME Filed June as. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 23-, 1924.

PATENT oF F ca.

- CHARLES r. HUMPHREYS, or LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR "r0 ARM- smone com: COMPANY, a conrona'rron or PENNSYLVANIA.

SURFACE COVERING'ANDMETHOD OF DECORATING THE SAME.

Application filed June 3, 1924. Serial 'No. 717,658.

To aZFw/zom it may co'rwem:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES F. HUM- rnanrs, a citizen of the United States, residing atLancaster, inthe county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Surface Coverings and Methods of Decorating the Same, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to coverings for surfaces, and-has as an object the provision of a covering for a floor or wall which shall. simulate variegated tiles.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a linoleum or wall paper having its surface decoration formed of regular shaped units arranged according to a uniform pattern, the units varying in appear.

ance among themselves and made up of a limited number of like appearances, the surfaces of similar appearances being placed with studied non-uniformity.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a floor or wall covering having its surfacd decorated with spaces of uniform shape arranged accordingto a definite pattern and comprising a limited number of varying appearance's, the individual spaces of like appearance being arranged with studied, non-uniformity and the actual 0ccurrence thereof being repeated over surfaces so large as to be not encompassed by a glance of the eye.

Other objects of this embodiment are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan .view ofthe covering made upof square surfaces;

Fig. 2 is a like view of a covering made up of rectangular surfaces twice as long as wide.

As shown, Figure 1 represents a strip of linoleum or oil cloth or wall covering made up of a series of squares separated by joints 10. The squares shown in the figure comprise three varieties of appearances, that'of 11 represented by horizontal lines, that of 12 represented by diagonal lines, and that of 13 represented by vertical lines. I

As shown, the squares of appearance 11, 12 and 13 are arranged with studied nonuniformity so as to present a haphazard appearance. It is the'intention that there shall be not only no pattern of any uniformity but that the actual arrangement which occurs shall not be repeated within a space which the eye can grasp at a single glance.

It is foundthat the space which can be appreciated by the eye of an observer is substantially the length of four feet,- and UED;

since linoleum is usually made in widths of six feet, the arrangement that could extend the width of the linoleum will be safely beyond any possibility of'observance of repetition by the eye ofanobserver,

when laidcontiguous to alike strip.

In the manufacture of linoleum, or of wall paper, an arrangement has been studied out which shall extend to at least the distance of four feet, asfor instance, to the point 14 on Figure 1 of the drawing after which the actualarrangement of the surfaces may be repeated. It is thus possible to produce by machinery a strip of materialof indefinite length with a repetition of arrangement and secure a covering which may be placed u on a floor or wall and which will surely placed at haphazard.

give the appearance ofhaving been- The principleof Fig. l is shown in Fig. I

2 as applied to a designof different shaped surfaces, but is applied in the same manner.

In Fig. 2 the repetition of the arrange ment will be found to begin at 15 and to the right of this line the arrangement which has already been used to the' left thereof is repeated.

By the provision of a linoleum or wall paper of the'characteristics provided by the present invention, it is possible to use these coverings in circumstances where the former artificial or set appearance has been objectionable. By means of this'invention a surface covering of tiles made up of a like color, but differing among themselves in shades as results from theordinary practice of burning tile, may besimulated.

The tile may not only be of. different shades of the same color but.may be tints of different colors which, of course, should harmonize with each other. The patterns shown in the drawings are made up of a plurality of spaces of like shape. It will however be understood that a combination ofsquares and oblongs, for instance, 'or of other units may be used in lieu thereof, and also that certain of the units may be slightly irregular in she e or lacing to better simulate the efiect o han -laid tile.

' covering may be varied by the proportionate choice of different shades, generally darker appearance resulting from a choice ofa majority of the darkest shades, or vice versa., 7

VVhile it has been indicated that the arrangement is as ,be repeated over a space of not less than four. feet, it will be understood that the drawing iscno't intended to illustrate a full width of linoleum with the length of the arrangement referred to.

I claim:

1. The method of decorating a surface which comprises covering the surface with a uniform pattern of spaces of like shape and a limited number of varying appearances, arranging the spaces of like appearance upon-the surface with irregularity of occurrence, and repeatingthe arrangement over an area so large as to be not perceived by a single glance of the eye, whereby to simulate the haphazard appearance of hand laid tiling.

2. A surface covering comprisin' in com- -bination, a series of spaces of 1i e shape arranged in a uniform pattern, the spaces comprising a limited numberof varying appearances, the spaces of like appearance upon the surface arranged with irregularity of occurrence and with the arrangement thereof repeated over successiveiareas so large as to be not perceived by a single glance of the eye whereby the covering when in place him' simulate the haphazard appcaranc'e of handlaid tiling.

CHARLES F. HUMPHREYS. 

